Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-21
DANNANHOWER DEAD.
The Famous Arctic Explorer Who
PiI0ted the Je8nette's Lone Boat
to Safety Shoots Himself.
No Doubt Exists that His Mind was I'm
hing d at the Time of the Act
His History.

ANNAPOLIS, MD, April 2O.-Lieutensnt
Iobn w. Dannsnhower of Arctic fame
was discovered st 10 O'Clock this morn
ing dead in his quarters at the Naval
Academy, with bullet hole in his right
temple. He was found lying on his rug
n front of his fire place, with tag tied
to his button-hole, saying: "Send me to
NV brother in Washington" Although
no had mental troubles since he returned
from the Arctic regions, what i'm
roadiatelv led TO the suicide is thought to
have been the recent grounding
Of the Constellation on its way
norfolk. which he had charge
IF and for which it is supposed he had
fear of being court martialed. Further
more he was very intimate with young
R,bgrt Gatewood, who recently COM
mitted suicide on the Carolina and whom
he saw in death. 1t is supposed this
death suggested this mode to him. His
wife. the daughter of Sena or George w.
sloan of New York, is at OSwegO, n. Y,
With her parents. Lieutenant Dannan
hover leaves two children. He was
gbout thirty five years old and an intelli-
cent and polished officer.
Lieutenant DannenhOwer's career was
av4ntful. and his sufferings on the ILL
fa+ed JeAnnette arctic expedition are
ven now fresh in the public mind He
vas born in Illinois, and entered the ma
,-sI service in 1866 He was attached to
the Tinted States steamship Vandalia
dnriDg her cruise in the Medi-
tarranean Ia I876-77, when Gene
raj Grant with his family were
on board and visited the Holy Land.
It was before this cruise that the lieuUen-
ant through his conduct began to show
sinns of an unbalanced mind, and his
maIqdv soon assumed a form so violent
that in 1875, after he had teen found wan
derIng in 8 North Carolina wilderness,
friends deemed it eXpedient to secure
Droper treatment for MIN hV combining
him about two months in s.. ElZabeth's
insane asylum, this district. He was
among the first officers who volunteered
to 90 upon the Jeanette arc iC expedition
sent out by James Gordon Bennett. On
Tulv S, 1879, the Jeanette sailed from San
Francisco on the north polar expedition,
bv wav Of Behring Straits. The eXpedi-
ton vas under command OF Lieutenant
Commando. George W. belong, assisted
bv Lieutenants Chip and DannanhOweT,
and Caief Engineer Melville. The last
communication from the vessel was
dated Cape Serve, Kamen, Siberia,
September ?, 1879, although she
wes afterwards seen of WIangel Land
about Il" north latitude. The crushing
OF the Jeanette in the ice and the three
boats containing officers and crew, the
starvation of Commander belong and
his boats crew, the loss of lieutenant
Chipp's boat and the terrible sUfferings
and final rescue of MelVille's party are
matters of history. In the final sepsra-
ton of the boats belong placed Dan
nanhower under MeIville's command for
the reason, as the Lieutenant said in his
report, that he was partially
disabled by the condition Of
his ewes. Naval officers, however,
maintain that it was to DsnnanhOwer's
fine seamanship and skillful handling of
the boat, Notwithstanding mis- partial
blindness, the safe landing of the crew
was due. Melville and Dannanhower
were the only surviving officers. When
Lieutenant DannanhOwer returned to the
United States in 1882 he was placed on
waiting orders during the progress of the
official inquiry into the loss
Of the Jeanette and afterwards granted
8 years leave of absence. During
this time he delivered q number of
lectures iD different parts of the country.
He married in New York while on leave
of absence and was assigned to duty at
Annapolis as assistant COmmendant of
cadets, which station he held at the time
of his death. few days ago he was at
Norfolk, Va, looking after the equip
ment of the practice ship Constellation,
and it is now recalled by officers
that be was very mOrese, and the opinion
was freely expressed that he was suffer
inc from an attack of his old m4ladY. Not
the slightest doubt is felt at the depart
ment of his insanity when he committed
the act which caused mis- death, SIS he was
happy in all his domestic relations, and
his future prospects were of the brightest.
W. W. DanusnhOwer, father of the
Lieutenant, said in conversation tonight
that his son was treated for melancholy
fifteen years ago. Since then there had
never been, TO his knowledge, any appear
anCe or apprehension of mental unsOund-
ness in him until to-day. The remains of
DsnnanhOwer will be taken to Washing
ton tomorrow for burial.
THE ACT OF AN INSANE NAN.
WASHINGTON, April 20.-Secretary
Whitney was notified by Commander
Sampson, at the Naval Academy st
Annapolis, of the suicide of Lieutenant
DsnnsnhoWer. The receipt of the news
created CONSERVATION in the department,
and was The subject of general converse
ton among the officers and employees,
who recalled certain incidents in the past
life OF the Lieutenant, in explanation of
the suicide. The telegram announcing
the sad event also stated that the unfor-
tunate man was undoubtedly insane when
ne took his own life.